Coin-collector.



PATENTED M11126, 1907. P. R. MOBERTY & J; L. MOQUARRIE.

COIN COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1903.

SHEETS-SHEET 1v 20072? cs: 7 I 21/6 2/01/26 No. 845,370. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1%07. F. R. MGBERTY & J. L. MQQUARBIE.

GOIN COLLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAE. 23, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

No. 845,370. PATENTBD FEB.26,1907.

\ P. MGBERTY ,& J. L. MOQUARRIE.

COIN COLLECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1903.

5 SHEETs-SEEET 3 PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907 L, MOQUARRIE.

F R. MGBERTY & J.

ODIN GOLLBGTOR. APPLICATION EIL ED JAN. 23, 1903.

No. 845,370. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. F. MGBERTY & J. L. MoQUARRIH COIN COLLECTOR v APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2a, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

nu rrnn entrai FRANK a. Masonry, or EVANSTON, njiirueis, Ann Jaws 0F'CI-IIOAGO,1LLINOIS, Assieuoss coiirauv I orcnroaeonnmums, A CQRFORATISII or LLINOIS.

. no. seas'zo.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb.

Mechanism Application filed January 28, 1903- Serial No. 1 16,2366.

To (1,541 whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK R. MQBERTY and Janus L. McQUAnmn, citizens of the United States, residing at Evanston and ()hicago respectively, in the county of (Jock and State o'l Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Join-Collectors, of which the following is a full, clear,concise; and exact description. I Uurinvention relates to a pay-station system for teleplione-exchanges, and has for its object to provide an improved organization of circuits and apparatus for controlling the disposition of coins deposited iii-the substation toll box in payment for telephone service.

Our system is of the general type wherein atv the initiation of a call the subscriber makes a preliminary or provisional derosit of a coin in the toll-boX, the mechanism wl'iereof'is controlled electrically from the central ol'lice. The deposited coin is held pending its final disposition in a temporary receiver, from which it may be discharged either into a cash-box or. into a return-chute which refunds it to the depositor. 'llie refunding mechanism, according to our plan, is to be manually operated by the subscriber. under. the controh'however, of the operator at the central ollice. The permanent deposit of the coin inthe cash-box may he brought about by electromagnetic mechanism actuated from, the central o'llice.

Our invention is directed toward means for insuring the proper preliminary derosit of the coin as a prerequisite to securing attention from the central ofiice, but more particularly toward means for permitting the recovery of the coin under various circunn stances where no chargeshould properly be auntie, while oil'octually preventing its fraudulcntrecovery or other vsystem. I

heating" of the .Certain particularly-desirorl features of opf cration which are accomplished by our-in- .vention are as follows: The central oflice is signaled only by the preliminary de'}? os'it of a coin.- If the line is a party-line ancl'is al ready .in'use, the coin will he immediately and automatically returned. lithe line is out of order, so that the attention oi .tral office is not secure-cl, the coin can e he re circumstances, alter the operator has ten formed a given actsuch for example,- as thetaking do n of the connectionthe subscriher may recover the coin by oggeratmg his as she has ansn ercd the call and retains it during the existence oi the connection, and

ozeerator has these screral results are secui'cdnithott dis- 'turhing the usual oyera'tion ot-line and supervisory signals at the snitch cosid. l v Vv e r ill descrice our intention in de tail by reference to the accompanying dranirgs, "chich illustrate the ireierred rniodirnent thereof, and the features or corrlinations v. hieh We regard as novel it ill he gointeri out in the appended claims. I

- Trigure i is a diagram illustrating the elec tricai features one circuits of a telephoneline extending from a sulstation to a central-oiiice switchtoard, the system icing or gs-nizecl and equipped for operation in ne cordence Witli OUI invention. lig. 2 is a front elevation of onc form of sul ste ticn tolllzox or coin-collector which is inteneed for use in connection with our system. Eig. 8 is a sectional plan View thereof on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the neehtnisin in iull pain. higa at of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the niechanisin, showing the'erniature oi the actuating-magnet fully'at'tre cted in position to discharge a coin from the teniporary receiver into the cash-t ox. Big. 6 is a sectional elevation showing the plunger of the refunding ntech iisni. pushed clear in. Big. 2' is e sectional plan 'VlG-t'f showing the armature atcied the first step. Big. 8 is a sectional View on line 6 6 of Fig, 9 is a Sillfll lar View, int illustra tin il receiver shifted to one icleto discharge the 3 t into the return-chute; end View of the toll-lox is a sectional side elevation on line 4 4' 1e temporary coin;

-IOO

The same letters of reference are used to designate the same parts wherever they are shown.

Each substation of the telephone-line, which is shown in Fig. 1 as a party-line, extending in two limbs 1 2 to a number of sta': tions, is provided with a toll-box, into which a coin must be deposited in order to signal the central ofiice. The particular mechanism of the toll-box is not to be claimed in this application, being made the subject of a separate sole application for patent by Frank R. McBerty; The system of our invention, however, is designed to include at each paystation a toll-box of the general type of that which is made the subject-matter of the McBerty sole application before referred to.

Thetele'phone-line extends in two limbs 12 from a number of substations (it being assumed that the line is a party-line, but only one substation being illustrated) to a central-'ofiice switchboard. The line conductor 1 is normally connected at the central ofiice through the winding of a signal-controlling instrument (shown as the usual line-relay) and the contacts of a cut-off relay to the free pole of a grounded battery b. The conductor 2 is shown normally open. A centralofii'ce switching-circuit of a well-known character is illustrated, having a plug and springjack connection-switch bywhich it may be connected with the line: tery'b' (which may be the same as battery b in accordance 'with the usual practice) is connected in a bridge of the plug-circuit, and when the plug is inserted in the springjack the battery I) is applied to the line, the free pole thereof being connected to the line conductor 2. At the same time the cut-off relay is actuated to disconnect the battery I),

- so that the effect of making connection with the line,as in answering the .subscribers call, is to transfer the connection fof the free pole of the battery from conductor 1 to conductor 2. A key p is associated with the operators plug-circuit, which is adapted when depressed to break the'circuit of the tip-strand and connect the end thereof leading to the tip of the plug'that is, to the limb 1 of the telephonelineto the free pole of a grounded generator G of special strong current.

i toll-box.

At the substation the usual telephone apparatus is connected in a bridge of the line controlled by the 'usual telephone-switch c, and we also further control said bridge at another point by contacts associated with. the The actuating-magnet a of the toll-box mechanism is connected in a ground branch or other return-circuit from the limb 1 of the telephone line controlled by a contact c, which isarranged to be actuated by a deposited coin, as will hereafter be described. The-connection of the magnet with the other limb 2 is controlled by the telephone-switch, said magnet being shown in a A grounded batcoin-actuated contact 0. ever, is also controlled at a normally closed contact a, which is opened in the actuation on the one side and the coin-actuated con' tact on the other. The armature a of the magnet is preferably arranged to close a relay-contact a controlling a shunt 4 of the Said shunt,how-

of the manually-operated refunding mechanism of the tollboX. A normally open contact a is also closed in the actuation of the refund mechanism, whereby the magnet a is connected directly to the limb 2 of the line that is to say, in the initial movement of the refunding mechanism the connection of the magnet a is transferred from line conductor 1 to conductor 2. The magnet a is of high resistance and impedance and is adapted to respond weakly to current from the centraloflice battery, but will respond with considerably greater energy to current from the enerator G. a i

In order that our system may be thin oughly understood, we will now roceed to describe the particular toll-box illustrated, which is designed for use in connection there- I with.

The receiving coin-chute c has its mouth near the top of .the front face-of the box and leads rearwardly downward to the mechanism which separates proper coins from those which are undersized. Two stops f g are provided in the path of the falling coin and are at such a distance apart-that coins of the required size cannot pass between them, and the coin-chute is continued below said stops as a return-chute e, leading back to a return cup e at the front of the box. A temporary receiver h in the form of a swinging guideway is provided alongside the retu'rnchute, and

a bar h forms the upper edge of the partition dividing said receiver from the return-chute, the lower portion of said partition being formed by the wall of the temporary receiver. The stops f g are laced-so as to arrest the coin alongside the ar h. The edges of said stops are preferably inclined, as shown, so that the coin will be supported at its outer edges only in such a way that it will tend to turn sidewise over the bar h and this tendency is increased by arranging the chute at a slight angle, so that the coin will already be tilted to one side when it strikes the stops. The center of gravity of the coin udll therefore bedisplaced toward the receiver h, and

the coin will turn sidewise over the bar h and i terfere with the freedom of movement which i is necessary to the normal "0 eration. The beating of the device is tierefore made more difficult. The stops ff -are carried at a is normally held in a retracted position by the 'end'of a bell-crank lever a, pressing a step 'or movement in its attraction'to the po- :ingipivoted Ma -substantially in the plane of The armature carries an arm a, which ex- :tends at right angles thereto toward the l u'ltraction of the armature-through the first j step. The lower stop f isnormally interv posed at ,thQbO'lJtOlIl of the temporaryreceiver 7,2 is normally maintained by the spring 7L2 inthe coin said coin rected therefrom into ,the return-chute.

' the plunger-bar is, engaging abe'v eledear or thertop'and bottomyrespectively, of the armature-(1 0i the) magnet-"(1, said armature bethe receiverto 'swing: horizontally, moving the stops carried thereby across the edges of the chute and receiver. The armature-lever against an insulating-stud carried by said armature-levernearthe fulcrum thereof. Said bell-crank lever is actuated by the spring a.

'crum2 of the spring actuatedlener a in position to forinzan intermediate stop for the armature-lever when the latter is partially atw tractedj.-; -Oontaetpartsare carried by the arms a a at'theirpoints of engagement to bonstitute the relay-contact designated in the, diagram' as (1 After the armature has reached its intermediate position the final sition shown in Fi 5 is opposed by the con- Siderably-increasm resistance due to the change in the leverage by which the tension, of spring-c is applied.

The upper stop f, carried by the armature, is normally. interposed in the coin-chute in position to deflect a deposited coin into the coin-receiver, butis, withdrawn by the atthe position shown in Fig. 8, so that when the armature of the in agnet'is fully attracted to remove the lowe '"sto )'f.. 'from the path-cf ilL be" directed into the cash-box Means are-provided, however, forswin'ging the receiver over to hllG'POSllllOB) shown 'in Fig. 9,"so that .a coin will be di- The lower stop 9 does not extend over far enough into the chute to support thecoin in the receiver (ir'guide when the same issfhiftcd to the position shown inlligij 9,; so'jthat the coin will thus be releasedf e'venl weigh the other'stopf 'is not moverhtl ie relation of the stops to the receiver l c ing' sucli"that the coin will' fallthrough unlessiit 'is su'pported by both of said stops. The shifting of the rcceive'r to' discharge the coin into the. retur chute may bee'fiecte' by apin 7c,"carri'edby When said switch-springftakes its alternate cam-plate h, carried by: the lower end of said swinging receiver. The is is fitted with a push-button k, by which it may be reciprocated, said bar being norm ally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 -for example, by the spring is";

To prevent the plunger.- from being pushed in to throw a coin into the return-chute under improper circumstances, a locking-pin o is carried by the armature and arranged to slide in a camroove k in the plunger bar or plate 7c, said groove being formed so that when the armature is attracted the plunger cannot be pushed clear in. that the cam-groove is shaped'so that in the initial movement of theplunger the arm aturo a will be caused tomovcf over to its intermediate attractrd position inline with the projecting shoulder k, so that unless the arma ture is retracted fto 'ententhe pin 0 in the cry tension 7c of the slot the further inward moyementof the plunger will be arrested before the pin 7c has engaged the cam-plate h to shift the swinging receiver. The advantage of this is that a very wealrattraction of the magnet will serve to lock the plunger,

since the armature is moved over close to the pole-piece by the initial'n'iovcment of said pl'ungcin This prevents the subscriber from recovering his coin by a-sudden movement of the plunger to throw over the swinging receiver before the magne'tih'as had time to draw up its armature through the considerable distance necessary; The movement of the plunger is may also serve to control the switcli-contacts a and a. An insulatingstud Z is carried by the plunger-plate and normally engages a contact-spring m, forcing the same into contact/with a back contact-anvil a When, however, the plunger. is pushed in by the initial movement, the

pressure of the stud Z against spring m is removed and said spring by-its own resiliency leaves the back contact a? and comes against the alternate contact at. A contact 0 should be arranged to begc losed by the coin when the same is held in; the temporary receiver 7c, and for this purpose the lower stop g, upon which the coin rests in the temporary receiver, may be formed by the lower end of a pivoted lever in, the upper and whereof carries the contact-point c; VVhenthoicoin is in the receiver, its weight swings It will be noted IIC the lever 1i upon; its pivot and brings the contiret-rmintc into, engagement with a cor responding, contact on ftl1e -.sw-1 tch-sprmg m;

The operat oinof devicefollows v The subscriber desiring. toztransmit a call to the central ofiice takes his. telephone from its other stationjthe magnet cwill be excited by switch-hook c, anddeposits a coin in the coinchute e. If the line 1s already busy at some current from either the battery I) or the battery b at the central oflice, so that the armature thereof will be drawn up and the stops removed from the path of the coin. The

Ordinarily, however, the magnet will not be I excited, and the coin'will strike the stops f g and fall sidewise over the bar h into the temporary receiver h, as before described. If a coin smaller than that for which the instru- Iment is designed is deposited in the chute, it will simply fall through between the stops f g and into the return-chute instead of turning sidewise over the bar h, as a proper coin will do. Assuming the coin to be a proper one and that it has turned over and come to rest in the temporary receiver, it will there bring about the closure of the contact 0, as before described. This will close circuit from conductor l (to which batteryis applied at the central office) to earth through conductor 3, which includes the winding of. magnet 11. The magnet will then be excited and draw upits armature to the intermediate position. Three results are accomplished by drawing up the armature: First, the stops f f, carried by the armature, are removed from the coin-chute, so that coins subsequently deposited will simply pass through the chute and be returned, second, the relay-contact a will be closed to close shunt 4 and maintain the circuit through the magnet independent of the coin-actuated contact 0, and, thirdly,

the pin or stop 0, carried by the arm a, will be moved into the path of the shoulder 7c of the plunger-bar, so that if the magnet continues excited the plunger cannot be pushed clear in to recover the coin. Until the operator answers, however, the supply of current to magnet 11 can be cut off at contacts a and c by the initial inward movement ofthe plunger, sov that in case the subscriber does not receive attention he can recover his coin by slowly pushing in .the plunger. 'When the operator plugs in, the subscriber loses control of the coin, since battery I) is now applied to limb 2 of the telephone-line, and

the initial inward movement of the plunger will connect the magnet a direct with this limb '2 at contact a", so that the magnet will [remain excited to lock the refunding mechanism. v

The final disposition of the coin heldin the temporary receiver may be either by the operator causing said coin to be deposited in the cash-box or permitting the subscriber to recover it in case no charge is to be made, as where the connection called for cannot be obtained. 1f the coin is to be deposited, the operator will apply s ecial strong current from the generator G y depressing herkey p. This will cause the magnet to become so strongly excited that it will completelydraw up ts armature against the tension of spring a as shown in Fig. 5. This Will withdraw the lower stop f, permitting the coin to fall into the cash-box. If the coin is to be re turned, the'operator will tell the subscriber to wait a moment and to then push the button. She will then take down the connece tionthat is, remove her plug (1 from the spring-jack dafter which the subscriber by pressing the button may break the circuit of the magnet a at contact 0 causing 1ts deenergization and as the plunger moves 1n causing the receiver h to be shifted into the position shown in Fig. 9, whereby the coin is released and discharged into the returnchute.

In pay-station systems of operation it is desirable that the toll shall be paid by the subscriber who initiates the call and that no charge be made against the called subscriber. In the system of our invention this result is accomplished by so arranging the circuit that current for actuating magnet a, which controls thev continuity of the substation telephone circuitds applied to the side of the line with which that magnet is associated in the act of inserting the calling-plug in the jack of the called-subscribers line. Thus when the called-subscriber in response to the calling-signal takes his receiver from its switchhook magnet a is immediately actuated to complete the telephone-circuit without re, quiring the deposit of a coin.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- 1. The combination with a telephone-line extending from a substation to a central office, of a toll-box at the substation having a temporary coin-receiver, a manually-operated refunding mechanism, a-coin-transferring mechanism, a magnet arranged to lock the refunding mechanism or operate the cointransferring mechanism according to the current applied thereto, and means at the central office for applying current suitable for exciting the magnet for either of its functions.

2. The combination with a telephone-line,

of a toll-box at the substation, a temporary refunding mechanism setin the first movement of the armature-lever, and coin-transferring mechanism actuated by a further movement thereof, and means at the central ICC Office for applying currents of suitable strength to the line to bring about the stepby-step movement of said armature-lever mechanism.

' 3. The combination with a metallic-circuit telephone-line 1 2 an' a grounded battery normally applied to th line conductor 1 at eeeeco the centre office, a. iine-signel instrument bee cectiozl of doctor 2, means controlled by t tielled C4311 ing included in said. conductor 1, of e tollbox at the substation having amanuallyopemte. refunding mechanism, at n renged tc seicl refunding;'iioecocnism when elicited, noisomlly open con-com toot in the llOii'rbOX, adapted to connect the me cet in c return-circuit from the aforesaid telconductor i, SW1 h-con mots changed in the actuation the refundmism adapted to transfer the con. ti ziiegoet to the other line conhe centml-olli opemtoi" for transferring bstteary comiection from co ductor .1 to QOidllfr tot"? whereby re: of the coinis brought code the control of the operator when she answers the cell,

4. The combination with e, telephone-line having a source'of cufientncrmally cori'nectred therewith at the centml office, of e toll box at the substation having e'i'eceiviog cin-- chute and, &16fi1l1Il-Ciltlij6 continued therefiom, a temporary coimrecei'vor, electromagneticclly opera ted coiri tronsfci'iing 11eclicnism controlling the discharge of a coin from said temporally receiver, and mecns'for operetmgtlie sme iromthe central ofiice, c

'sto cont'l'ollin the direct cssc e of coins to said returnchute,c magnetic moving said socp,jcnd a contact cdcptegl to? actua tum-by a com in the temporary receiver, con:

trollingthe connection 0? said magnet with tlie tclephonedine, whercoy' coins deposited in the toll box-while cpreviously'tleposited coin is in the temporary receiver Ie turned; I

5. The combination with party telephone-line, of e tolleboxiet e station thereof,

betting a receiving coin-ci1ute and a returnchute continued therefrom, a temporary coin-receiver, a contact adapted to be closed by elco'm said receiver, controlling a sig{ nclscircuit it stop controlling the direct pcssage of deposited coins into ceidw Totem-chute, a magnet for moving said. stop, a telephoneswitch, it circiiit for scicl'meg net from one of the line conductors, controlled by said telephonc switch, soui'ce of current noixcclly conncctcd'to the other linecoixluctor, and a bridge of the line conductors at each station of the warty-line controlled by the telephone eubstetion ecoi cmmsicr battery normed switch. tliez'ect, whereby com. deposited in the toll-box when he line already in use will be i'eiiumeai. l

The mete t'tioe. with 2.- metellic-cir- (flit telepllone e 1 iextending ironic, sub station to centreicfiice, t5 lollbcx at the ing it temporary coi; receiver, at in mmeliy-opemtcd refunding mechanism,

P1 n mechanism and a magnet havi "$1112 overs mechanism adopted for s icy-step og otioe. cc-c rdmg to the week (A stiong' ex ,tioc tliie negnet, c,

3/ connected with 2; line con-\ trolling instrument in the betoei'iy-ciremit" through SE-1d line conductor, a contact adagat ccl i201" closure by a coin in the tempororyre ceiver, controlling a return-circuit frogcscid' line conductoif; said magnet being included in eWitch-contccts operated in the actiiet'ion 'of the refunding mechanism adapted to tran fer line conductor to permit the 'ecovez-y of tli'e adopted to apply a source of current to the other line conductor 2, whereby the refund,- ing mechanism is locked when the operator answers, and means at the central onice for applying" current to strongly excite the mclgnet and so 1 operate the coin transferring mechanism.

7. "ihecombinction' with a, telephoneline and a coin-collecting toll-box at the station thereof having a coin-chute and a temporary coimrcceiver, of a movable stop adapted to prevent the deposit of acoin in s'sid' receiv'er,f and c magnet controlling the stop connected with the telegihoneylflme switch-contacts closed by a coin in the temporary receiver citing the some, whereby the presence of'e- (lop osit'of a second coin therein,- os described. 8. 'lhe combination with elperty tcle station therec'i having e temporary coin-re ceiver c'nd a coin-clmte leading theretov of e movable stop controlling the deposit of'e coin, and a magnet for actuating scid'stop,

nctclosecl by any of said switches when the telephone is in use at scidfoth'er station,

when the line is already in use;

ed with line-switching meclieiiismcrid pro? to'ltbor; hevin e coin-receiver and e coinchute leading tnereto, of a movable stop controlling the deposit of a coin in said box, and, e magnet foi acmeting said step, said magnet described,

; the combination with a telephoue owing-ct o substotion c coin-collecting tollluctor 1 at the, central office, e sig'nalwcm cool IQfillfZi-OllC'LllB, e lock for the refciiding iechenlem made operative by the first-move ment of the sa d armature-lever mechonism,

connection of the magnet to the other coin, e connection-switch at the central office controlling the circuit of said magnet for ex 9 5 coin in the temporary receiver prevents the phone-line antic, coiri collcctingtoll-box at e 300 said magnet being connectegl with the telc- 1'05 'phone-line; telephor e-switches at the other 3 stations of the line, and a. circuit of said mzigwhereby the deposit of a coin, is prevented no 9. 'lhc combination" Withe tel eplioifie' li'rie leading to a central oifice and there "connect vicled at its sulistction with e (rein-collecting: I 1 5 v ertydine leading to e'centml stetion and;

630x providci with. a temporary 'coiz1-re-' 1 o ceiver and a coin-chute leading thereto, a movable stop or valve controlling the deposit of a coin in said temporary receiver and a magnet actuating said stop; of a switch in said temporary coin-receiver, a switch at each other substation of the line closed in the use of the telephone there, and a switch at the central station closed in making connection with the line for conversation, and a circuit of said magnet for actuating the same closed by each of said switches; whereby the deposit of a coin is prevented when a coin has already been placed in the receiver, or when the line is in use at a different station as described.

11. The combination with a telephone-line and switching appliances therefor at the central station, a'supervisory signal and a source of current connected with the line during its use for conversation, and a telephone-switch controlling the circuit of said supervisory signal at the substation, of a coin-collector at said substation having a temporary coinreceiver, a refundingdevice for returning the coin, and a manua1ly-operated push button for actuating said refunding device, ailock for the refunding device and a magnet controlling the l0ck, said magnet being in a normally open circuit with said source of current connected with the line at the central station, and a switch controlled by said pushbutton for closing the circuit of said magnet; whereby the return of the coin is prevented during connection with the line at the central station.

12. The combination with. a metallic-circuit telephone-l1ne with switching apparatus at the central station thereof, a supervisory signal and a source of current connected through said switching apparatus with the line, and a telephone-switch controlling a bridge of the line for'operating said signal, of a coin-collector at the substation of the line having a temporary coinreceiver and a coindepositing device, and a magnet controlling said coin-depositing device, said magnet being connected in a ground branch with the conductorpf the line not directly connected with said source of current at the central office; a manually-operated refunding device, a lock for said refunding device also controlled by said magnet, and a switch controlled in operating said refunding device adapted to transfer the circuit connection of said controlling-magnet to the other line conductor; whereby the magnet is left connected with one of the line conductors to permit the taking of the coin, the supervisory signal is controlled by the telephone-switch independently of the circuit of said magnet, and said magnet is made active to block the refunding device when the same is operated during the connection of the line, as described.

13. The combination with a party telephone-line and a coin-collector at the substation thereof having a coin-receiver, and a chute leading thereto, of a movable stop adapted to prevent the deposit of coins in said coin-receiver and a magnet controlling said stop, and means operated by the telephone-switches at each of the stations of said party-linefor exciting said magnet when the telephone is in use at another station, the circuit of said magnet at its station being controlled by the telephone-switch at the said station, the circuit of the telephone at said station being controlled by the magnet to be closed when the magnet is excited, and means at the central office for applying current to the line in making connection therewith to excite said magnet whereby the telephone at the said station may be taken for use without preventing the deposit of a coin in said coin-receiver, but said magnet is o erated and the circuit of the telephone is c osed when connection is made with the .line at the central oflice, as described.

14. The combination with a party telphone-line, of a coin-collector at a substation thereof having a refund-passage, and means controlled by switches at the other substations, adapted to direct a deposited coin into said refund-passage.

15. The combination with a party -telephone-line, of a coin-collector at a substation thereof having a coin-chute and a refundpassage, of a magnet associated with the coin-collector, and means operated in the response of said magnet for directing a deposited coin into said refund-passage, a branch circuit for saidmagnet from one side of said telephone-line, and means controlled in the use of the telephone at any of the other su'bstations of the line, for applying current to the side from which said branch is extended; whereby if the line is busy coin deposited in said collector is automatically returned.

16. The combination with a telephoneline, of a coin-collector at the substation thereof having a refund-passage,-of a magnet associated with the coin-collector and means operated thereby for directinga deposited coin into said refund-passage, a branch circuit for said magnet from one side of theline, and means for applying current to said side in the use of the line; whereby a coin deposited when the line is already in use willbe returned. 1

In witness whereofwe hereunto subscribe our names this 16th day of December, A. D. 1902.

FRANK R. MCBERTY. JAMES L. MCQUARRIE. Witnesses:

JOHN G. Ronnars, Gnnrnnnn Ersrna. 

